With point-to-pointing resuming next week, this will be the last in the series of lockdown lowdown interviews and - to mark the occasion - Jake Exelby spoke to a true legend of the sport.
Alison Dare (pictured above far right)’s career as a jockey spanned 25 seasons and comprised 287 winners – at a time when the season was shorter and Sunday racing limited – between the flags (as well as 18 in hunter chases) and six female rider championships.
Well-known for her partnership with revered trainer Dick Baimbridge, riding horses like Fennelly, Split Second and Stephen’s Pet, Alison took some time out recently to reminisce about her days in the saddle – and what she’s been up to since.
How did you get into riding and pointing in the first place?
I’m not from a horsey background and didn’t sit on a pony until I was eight or nine – but one of my best friends had one and I badgered my parents until they bought me something unsuitable!
I graduated from Pony Club and eventing – I was rubbish at dressage and show jumping but enjoyed the cross-country. Then one day, I was standing by the last fence at Didmarton and thought, “I want to do this.” My first ride was there in 1978, on Arctic Flambe for Harold Spencer. I fell off at the last, but I should have pulled up!
How did the association with Dick Baimbridge come about?
Peter Cave – who owned last year’s Festival winner The Conditional – asked me to ride a horse called Appersett, that was too small for him. I rode a couple more for him in my second season and Dick saw me. He asked me to ride Silvertown at Higham on the first day of the 1980 season and we were beaten on the line by Lucy King and Florida King (that year’s champion lady rider and leading horse).
I had my first winner at Silvertown at Didmarton, started riding more of Dick’s horses in ladies opens and I was bitten by the bug. We clicked, developed a good working relationship and I ended up riding most of his.
He got his horses really fit, always got the best out of them and was a good disciplinarian – firm but fair. He never gave me instructions and never criticised.
When and why did you retire from riding?
I stopped in 2002. My father was in hospital with a head injury and going to see him made me think about it. I was supposed to be going to Umberleigh, but never race-rode again.
After retiring, I trained a few winners, including in hunter chases – my best horse was Twenty Degrees, who won the Ladies Final at Stratford. However, I wasn’t good at delegating – I did everything myself – and didn’t want to do it 24/7.
Which jockeys did you most admire?
Julian Pritchard, who also rode for Dick, was confident and strong. I used to get him rides by saying, “This wants a man on it” and he used to excel on them, which was great for the yard, but not for my self-esteem!
Polly Curling was a great contemporary, also very strong, and I had a lot of admiration for her.
Nowadays, most of the good ones turn professional. Rachel Blackmore (who became leading jockey at Cheltenham after this interview) and Bryony Frost are on equal terms with the men.
Who have been your favourite horses?
Mendip Express – the original one (not the useful chaser for Harry Fry and Philip Hobbs). We won 38 races – 36 ladies opens – together and he was an absolute pleasure to ride.
And Russki, a little grey who needed quick ground, who was very important to me. I had my 100th and 150th winners and broke Josie Sheppard’s record on him (all at Chaddesley Corbett).
What’s your favourite course?
Woodford, which is my home track and where I had a great deal of success. I also had a lot of fun at Badbury Rings and Larkhill.
What was your funniest moment?
One that sticks in my mind was riding Romulex – a real dodgepot who Dick and I sorted out – in the Berkeley maiden at Woodford in 1984. We made most of the running and, coming down the home straight, I heard two guys behind me – one of whom was Harry Wheeler – starting a running commentary on the state of my backside. I’m not sure if they were being complimentary, or trying to put me off!
And the highlights of your time in the sport?
Beating Amanda Harwood at Larkhill in 1986 to clinch my first title and beating Josie Sheppard’s all-time record in 1993.
Then in 1995, I broke my leg at Dunthrop. People were writing me off, saying “She’ll never come back at 38.” I might have retired, but that focused my mind, and in 1996 I had my best-ever season with 31 winners from 43 rides.
Do you have any regrets?
No racing regrets, because I was so involved in the sport. But I didn’t learn to ski until I was in my mid-50s, and I wish I’d done that earlier.
What changes have you seen in your time, for better, for worse?
For the better, Sunday racing. One of my big moans was the clash of fixtures – we’d have three adjacent meetings on some Saturdays.
I don’t agree with professional trainers running horses in hunter chases, but I shouldn’t complain – I rode four winners in them for Henrietta Knight!
What do you think the effect of lockdown on pointing will be?
I’ve no idea, but genuine point-to-point people won’t give up, will they?
What have you been up to during lockdown?
It’s been funny how you suddenly realise how anti-social you are when lockdown doesn’t affect your life much! I’ve been taking my dog for long walks, have decorated the sitting room and kitchen and have been in a bubble with my mother at Winterbourne, near Bristol, which is where I’m from.
What TV have you been watching?
I’ve been catching-up on my binge watching. Programmes like The Fall, Happy Valley and Unforgotten.
What’s your dream holiday destination?
Barbados. Alex Embiricos is one of my best friends, and I went out there with her.
What are you most looking forward to when lockdown is over?
I really like travelling, which has been curtailed, so am planning more trips, including to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.
Then I’m looking forward to getting back out on the kayak I bought after the first lockdown last year. I had a lot of fun, including in the sea at Studland, Dorset (my dog comes too and loves it!) Apparently, kayaking is permitted during lockdown but, as we're supposed to exercise locally, I haven't been recently. I was also due to go kayaking off the east coast of Greece last year, but it was cancelled.
Who is your non-racing hero?
My dad, who died five years ago. He’d been ill for a few years but never complained once. He was unique, and very much his own man. He was also my biggest fan and bought me my first pony – a life-changing experience.
Do you have a nickname?
One couple named me Danley, as in Dan Dare. I don’t know why. And Dick was known as Dickley!
Tell me something I wouldn’t know from asking these questions
I spent my 57th birthday on a trek to Everest base camp!
I would like to thank the 20 subjects of the “Lockdown Lowdown” features for taking the time to speak to me. I hope that everybody has enjoyed reading them – it’s now time to Go Pointing again!